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Revital Bat Lea
We know that the snake instigated to sin, but when did he tell lashon hara? It was his claim that the reason Hashem forbade eating from the tree of knowledge was that He knew that man would be like Him, kav’yachol. But still, one thinks of talking about G-d inappropriately as heresy rather than lashon hara. How is Moshe talking about Bnei Yisrael parallel to the snake’s words of heresy?
In essence, the snake said that there is nothing innately different about Hashem, but that He is like people and has self-interests like them. In this way, Moshe said something parallel about Bnei Yisrael. Although most nations would be skeptical about being extricated from Egypt’s grip, a Divinely chosen nation would believe that the promise of redemption Hashem gave to their forefathers would be fulfilled. This special type of lashon hara doubted that Bnei Yisrael was unique in this regard, implying that all nations are the same.
This idea of denying a special Divine essence may also shed light on another use of the root for snake, nachash. In many places in the Torah, nachash refers to a form of witchcraft that predicts the future (see Bereishit 44:15; Bamidbar 23:23). This is based on the assumption that everything is predictable if one taps into the forces. It denies the Divine input into the process.
Our outlook on the snake’s worldview also sheds light on another statement of Chazal about the snake. Rashi (to Bamidbar 21:6) says that snakes were chosen to punish Bnei Yisrael for criticizing the manna to show the absurdity of complaining about a food that turned into whatever taste one wanted. The snake brings that message home because everything tastes the same to it. According to our thesis, this is particularly significant. Whether physically or spiritually, the snake’s mouth declares there is no difference between this and that. The tongue that said that G-d is the same as people was punished with the curse that all foods will taste identically like earth (see Bereishit 3:14).
When Hashem hinted to Moshe the shortcoming he had displayed, Moshe ran away from the snake (Shemot 4:3). It perhaps was particularly frightful to think that the staff that he had been holding continuously had been a snake, with the spiritual implications we have alluded to. Hashem reassured Moshe that the flaw was not innate, but a misunderstanding, and that he could grab the snake and return it to a staff.
Let us all be successful in recognizing the potential "snake in our hands" and keep it from showing its ugly head.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
